Hello!

I'm not sure this is the best place to ask this question, so please point me to the right forum if this is not the place for technical problems.
Secondly, I'm not fluent in technical terminology, but I'll try to explain the best as I can.

I have FIAT Punto 1.9 JTD (year 2000). It has only 106000 km under it's wheels.
I haven't had any real problems with it until two weeks ago. One day it just stopped working in the middle of the street. I couldn't start it for about 20 minutes afterwards. Battery was working and spinning the engine, but it just wouldn't start. After 20 minutes, it started, and was working for about 2 minutes, and then the same thing happened.

Somehow I managed to get it to mechanics, but they couldn't find what's wrong with it, because it was working perfectly when it was at their shop. They replaced fuel filter and changed the oil, checked all wires and pipes and couldn't find anything faulty. The car was working perfectly for two weeks after that, and today the same thing happened. When it shuts down, I have to wait for about 20 minutes until it starts again, then I can drive it for about 1-2 kilometers, then it shuts down again.

Here are some details that might be important:
- While it won't start, the red engine led is turned on
- I have more than half fuel in the tank (Euro Diesel)
- I noticed that it stops working only when I stop on traffic lights or when I change gears (only when RPM drops too low)
- I usually buy my fuel (Euro Diesel) at one fuel company (Tiffon) but the day before it started failing, I had to fuel it at another company (INA, Croatia). It's the same fuel type, but could the difference in diesel quality or something be the cause of the problem?
- The temperature doesn't seem to be the problem, because all indicators are normal (Temperature gauge is allways below 50% as usual)

I'm planning to get it to our local official FIAT service in a day or two, but as I know my luck, the car will probably work perfectly when I drive it to them, and they won't be sure what's wrong.

So, if anybody had a similar problem, can you please tell me what was wrong?

Thank you!

A dealer should be able to get some clues from any stored error logs in the ECU if it is showing an engine warning light when it fails.

Hi mate,

You have classic symptoms of crank sensor failure. Have a look at THIS guide. Its very common on a JTD of your age and miliage.

Hope that helps,
Alan

Hi!

Thanks for the guide. It looks exactly like my problem. Do you know the catalog part number of the RPM sensor?

Part number is: S4P2837

Bottom right here: http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=s...&secondary=133&opts=51&btnViewProducts=Search

Thank you!

We have bought and replaced that part. It's been working for last 3 days without problems. It might be too early to tell, but I think this solved the problem. I'll keep this thread updated if something comes up.

Something else that fails on other diesels is the fuel cut off solenoid valve. When that's stuck shut the engine wont run.

I have similar problem, but my car never stalled/shut down. Sometimes when i come to it it just wont start, it cranks and sometimes sounds like it will almost start, but it never does, i have to leave it alone for 20min or so and than it starts and runs without ever shutting down on me. That 'sometimes' it wont start both when it cold in the morning, or hot in the city after parking it.
And yeah i get engine error too, but i really dont like local mechanics and dont want to give it to them to read the error, it will take forever and they will rip me off, it's just how i feel unfortunatley. And that engine error appeared long before this problem started to occur. I bought if from a neibghour after it being sitting for 1 year, its 2004y stilo 1.9jtd with 120.000km on it, engine error started right away after i bought it, but worked just fine for months, until recently, it happens on daily basic, but once it starts it never shuts down on me.

Do you also think its that sensor, or more like fuel pump?